'Boom' is an up-and-coming airline that hopes to succeed where Concord, the notable, now-defunct airline, failed by offering commercial supersonic flight. With a proprietary plane called the XB-1 set to be released soon, Boom is planning to begin running flights in late 2017.
The benefit of supersonic flight is that, quite simply, it is significantly faster than traditional flying. In fact, Boom's XB-1 reaches mach 2.2, making it 2.6 times faster than any other airliner currently flying. With that kind of speed, passengers could fly from New York to London in just three hours and fifteen minutes.
Though commercial supersonic flight is not new -- see the above-mentioned Concorde -- Boom hopes to succeed thanks to modern technology. One of the reasons Concorde failed was cost: the Concorde jets used massive amounts of fuel, and that cost was passed on to consumers. Boom's XB-1 uses a modern engine that is far more energy efficient, making it a more affordable option for passengers.
Revived Supersonic Airlines
'Boom' Hopes to Succeed in Place of Concorde with Supersonic Aircraft
Trend Themes
1. Commercial Supersonic Flight - With Boom's XB-1, a disruptive innovation opportunity for aviation industry is to provide commercial supersonic flights that will cut travel time significantly.
2. Energy-efficient Engines - Opportunities for innovation and cost-efficient initiatives in air turbine manufacturing needed to create thoroughfare for supersonic planes like XB-1 being developed by Boom.
3. Modern Technology - Modern technology offers a disruptive innovation opportunity for aviation industry to create supersonic planes with better fuel efficiency, like Boom's XB-1.
Industry Implications
1. Airline Industry - Boom's revival of supersonic airline industry creates opportunities for new entrants and existing airlines to provide faster commercial flights.
2. Aerospace Industry - Aerospace industry has opportunities for partnerships with companies like Boom for development of aircrafts with modern technology and energy-efficient engines.
3. Air Turbine Manufacturing Industry - Advancements in air turbine manufacturing can pave the way for development of fuel-efficient engines used in supersonic planes like Boom's XB-1.